His name was Mic Gillette, he doubled on Trumpet and Trombone. He passed away from a heart attack about 4 years ago. He was such a Great Person and very approachable RIP Mic
The trombone and trumpet/flugelhorn player is the Bay Area Legend Mic Gillette. Was a child prodigy who could play trumpet and read music at 4 years old. Played with TOP , Doobie Bros., Santana, and Sons of Champlin. Later spend countless hours helping young musicians. A great musician and human being.
Before he played with TOP he was in Cold Blood. Mic Gillette (RIP) was one of a kind. People don’t understand the difficulty and rare talent to be able to play Trumpet AND Trombone. I was glad I got to meet and talk to him in Reno at a show he was playing…
TOP has had a lot of different lineups over their 50 plus years together. The best ones had this rhythm section, David Garibaldi on drums and Francis Rocco Prestia on bass, R.I.P. Rocco.
Huey Lewis saved Tower of Power from extinction in the 80s by having them as his opening act and then playing with Huey Lewis and The News on an album.
The musical talent on that stage is phenomenal...I seen them live for the first time in 1975 and of all the concerts I've seen they are the tightest group of pro's I've ever seen ..this is as good as it gets
Best band in the land for more than 55 years….that’s right, 55 YEARS! That lead singer in this video is my good friend, Larry Braggs (a/k/a LB), who fronted the band for more than 14 years before joining the Temptations, and there’s four original band members on that stage!
This band IS the definition of TIGHT. If you are interested check out the live versions of "I've Got To Groove", "Mrs. Jones" and "James Brown Medley"..... enjoy the soul!!
Roger Smith on keyboards, Jerry Cortez on guitar, and the sax player who leads the audience in getting involved is Emilio (“Mimi”) Castillo , who co-founded Tower of Powerin 1968.
Tower Of Power is one of the greatest hands to ever do it! The "Soul Power" breakdown is the James Brown hit from 1970. The guitar line from this was originally done by Phelps "Catfish" Collins.
That guy at the the end there is Emilio Castillo the founder and manager still of TOP. You should checkout one of their concerts that come your way. You won't be disappointed.😎🙏✝️🇺🇲🇺🇲
Yesss that is my guy Larry BRAGGS! Larry has great vocals and he is an amazing dancer!! Have seen him with them in concert, before he left the band and went solo! You should listen to this other track of them: “Boys of the Bay” a lot of horns and very intense! Cannot believe the audience is not moving, such stiff people! You think you have seen the guys blowing the horn, wait until you listen to “Boys of the Bay”
This group is Legendary the Horn🔥🎶🎶🎶🎷🎺 Section Legendary ! You are reviewing it on live video but you need to go back and listen to the original recordings of all of tower of power music ! This Legendary Band still is on tour ! They should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 😍
These guys are such a great live act always deliver and also very down to earth kind of guys. The guy who sang on the "what is hip" chorus and played the trumpet and the trombone was Mic Gillette (r.i.p.). The drummer here David Garibaldi and the bass player Rocco Prestia (r.i.p.) was the tightest rhythm section in the biz!!
Soul Power is a song that was original done by James Brown, Tower tied it into their song what is Hip. The guitar riff was in the original song by James Brown.
To get an idea of what Tower of Power is, look for the live album “Live In Living Color” recorded in Sacramento CA in 1972… it will undoubtedly be only audio, but react to “Sparkling in the Sand”… and pay particular attention to how the flute solo ends …You’ll thank me afterward.
Straight from Oakland, “Tower of Power brass” ruled the funk scene in the 70’s & 80’s ish. I did not see Doc Steve Kupka in that performance, maybe Im wrong about that someone let me know! Anyway Wolf Hunterz thank you for your reaction!
@@dmneeds sorry to hear that. I could not hear that baritone sax witch completes that TOP brass signature sound! I also don’t think that Chester was on the Hammond keys, is that correct? Thanks for replying the song really made my day.
Back in the day (70s), the track that made wanted to learn the bass. I did! Paid my mortgage and put my daughter through school and college. Cheers Rocco (RIP)... Please check out their track Soul Vaccination. Cheers (from the UK) guys ❤️
Don't know where you guys are located, but if ToP ever passes thru your area you absolutely positively need check out there live shows. After 50+ years they still regularly blow the roofs off of nightclubs. .... ....
Agree with everyone - you have to see it in '73 to realize just how bad-ass it was in its time. Also, the song doesn't exist without that bassline, but I've NEVER seen the bass player get any camera time. Criminal.
😂Tower of Power Earth Wind and Fire The Crusaders Steely Dan The Dobbie Brothers Stevie Wonder etc.When all of these amazing musicians and vocalists sadly pass away what do we have left.The answer is nothing.I am 70 years old and have lived through 4 decades of truly outstanding music.
Y'all loved it but you watched the wrong vid. Go back to the original version. It will blow your mind. I'm glad you liked it. Don't miss the music. Keep searching. There's a lot more.
Going strong since 1968. The Funky Doctor, Doc Kupka, is noticeably absent from this performance. That mad low "scoop" of his baritone sax is silent, though his hat is there. A TOP show is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. The only place I will be seen dancing in public.
Tower Of Power could never capture the crowd at live performances because they always played the song too fast, and they replaced the lead singer with somebody who wasn't that good. LISTEN TO THE STUDIO VERSION, THERE IS NOTHING BETTER.
You listening to the wrong one. Go back to the first tower power album with Lenny Williams. He will blow your head off. This guy I am not impressed with. By the way, I’m a musician.
Tower of Power is at the top of the food chain when it comes to soul, funk & horn sections!!! They are absolute FIRE!!!
100%
I've seen them numerous times, and they always have that monstrous titanic pocket groove happening...
Bar None!!
His name was Mic Gillette, he doubled on Trumpet and Trombone. He passed away from a heart attack about 4 years ago. He was such a Great Person and very approachable RIP Mic
The trombone and trumpet/flugelhorn player is the Bay Area Legend Mic Gillette. Was a child prodigy who could play trumpet and read music at 4 years old. Played with TOP , Doobie Bros., Santana, and Sons of Champlin. Later spend countless hours helping young musicians.
A great musician and human being.
Before he played with TOP he was in Cold Blood. Mic Gillette (RIP) was one of a kind. People don’t understand the difficulty and rare talent to be able to play Trumpet AND Trombone. I was glad I got to meet and talk to him in Reno at a show he was playing…
RIP Mic!
RIP Mic… we’ll not have another like you
TOP has had a lot of different lineups over their 50 plus years together. The best ones had this rhythm section, David Garibaldi on drums and Francis Rocco Prestia on bass, R.I.P. Rocco.
Hey guys....pull up the original Tower of Power playing what is hip live in 1973! It is AMAZING!
Theres some Energy there. And when the sax player and lead singer get into the little dance break, have to watch for that
Great version of this classic funk piece. Garibaldi is one of the greatest funk drummers ever.
Huey Lewis saved Tower of Power from extinction in the 80s by having them as his opening act and then playing with Huey Lewis and The News on an album.
When I listen to Tower of Power my neighbors do too!
🤟🏻
The musical talent on that stage is phenomenal...I seen them live for the first time in 1975 and of all the concerts I've seen they are the tightest group of pro's I've ever seen ..this is as good as it gets
Best band in the land for more than 55 years….that’s right, 55 YEARS! That lead singer in this video is my good friend, Larry Braggs (a/k/a LB), who fronted the band for more than 14 years before joining the Temptations, and there’s four original band members on that stage!
Same here, 55 years a fan too! I wish LB was back. Not too fond of the new guy. RIP Rocco and Mic.
I love the little shot of David Garibaldi, at the end.
Hits the last beat and then "yes!"
He knew they'd just made magic.
T.O.P. IS soul with a capital "S" SAW them when they came out with their first LP East Bay Grease.
soul funky!! this is MY BAND! FROM MY GENERATION! I'M 63 YEARS OLD AND I GREW UP WITH THIS BAND! LOVE ME SOME TOP!!!
THE70'S WERE THE DECADE OF THE BIG FUNK BANDS AND THE HORNS RULED! TOP, ADVERAGE WHITE BAND, EARTH WIND AND FIRE, THEY WERE KILLING IT!
seeing them live in the 70's was life changing...Rocco...Bass Marvel
This band IS the definition of TIGHT. If you are interested check out the live versions of "I've Got To Groove", "Mrs. Jones" and "James Brown Medley"..... enjoy the soul!!
Baddass Old School Funk!!!
Roger Smith on keyboards, Jerry Cortez on guitar, and the sax player who leads the audience in getting involved is Emilio (“Mimi”) Castillo , who co-founded Tower of Powerin 1968.
Tower Of Power is one of the greatest hands to ever do it! The "Soul Power" breakdown is the James Brown hit from 1970. The guitar line from this was originally done by Phelps "Catfish" Collins.
When did catfish Collins ever play on the Tower of power record I've never heard of that at all before you sure that's correct
Hipness is what it is, but sometimes hipness is what it ain’t….
That guy at the the end there is Emilio Castillo the founder and manager still of TOP.
You should checkout one of their concerts that come your way. You won't be disappointed.😎🙏✝️🇺🇲🇺🇲
I saw these guys years ago. They tore the roof off the place
How man,
this takes me back to my club days with my hubby! 77 and still digging on it.
If you're a musician of any type you love the Tower of Power and if you've never heard of them yet you'll get hooked.
Yesss that is my guy Larry BRAGGS! Larry has great vocals and he is an amazing dancer!! Have seen him with them in concert, before he left the band and went solo! You should listen to this other track of them: “Boys of the Bay” a lot of horns and very intense! Cannot believe the audience is not moving, such stiff people! You think you have seen the guys blowing the horn, wait until you listen to “Boys of the Bay”
This group is Legendary the Horn🔥🎶🎶🎶🎷🎺 Section Legendary ! You are reviewing it on live video but you need to go back and listen to the original recordings of all of tower of power music ! This Legendary Band still is on tour ! They should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 😍
100%
"Hip just is, what it is". How a band grooves on the one.
Ridunkulous level of Soul/Funk on a thick bed of virtuosity .
These guys are such a great live act always deliver and also very down to earth kind of guys. The guy who sang on the "what is hip" chorus and played the trumpet and the trombone was Mic Gillette (r.i.p.). The drummer here David Garibaldi and the bass player Rocco Prestia (r.i.p.) was the tightest rhythm section in the biz!!
By the way, this is the best Tower of Power lineup in the band’s 55-year+ history!
That was Mic Gillette on Trumpet/Bone you saw there. He was one of TOP founding members, RIP.
Mr.Brass Kicks Ass...formerly of Cold Blood,too.
Now you are getting into a a GREAT GROUP. TOP IS AWESOME. THE LEGENDARY HORNS
Tower of Power is amazing! I saw them live several times. Most of the audience were musicians. Such fun! ❤️🇨🇦
I used to jam to these guys in high school in the 70's. Yes I am that old and a band geek. Love your reaction.
Fly the flag for the old school Dean. Funk rules
Same
me too
Cruising down the freeway to it full blast.
Wolf Hunterz woman has the GROOVE!
Amazing energy they put out!!
This bass part is an aerobic workout. RIP Rocco. (Try Oakland Stroke)
The Done Found It....
Soul Power is a song that was original done by James Brown, Tower tied it into their song what is Hip. The guitar riff was in the original song by James Brown.
That is the late Mic Gillette (another friend) on both trumpet and trombone, plus background vocals.
Total.... unabashed.... Funk. Love it !!!
Larry Braggs is insanely goooood
To get an idea of what Tower of Power is, look for the live album “Live In Living Color” recorded in Sacramento CA in 1972… it will undoubtedly be only audio, but react to “Sparkling in the Sand”… and pay particular attention to how the flute solo ends …You’ll thank me afterward.
TOP with LITTLE FEAT for Spanish Moon LIVE .......greasy southern sleazy funk.
Heaven
yous got to see band in person i saw them 30times
Straight from Oakland, “Tower of Power brass” ruled the funk scene in the 70’s & 80’s ish. I did not see Doc Steve Kupka in that performance, maybe Im wrong about that someone let me know! Anyway Wolf Hunterz thank you for your reaction!
Doc wasn’t there for this performance. You can see the mic stand with his hat hanging on it. They’re missing that low end kick.
@@dmneeds sorry to hear that. I could not hear that baritone sax witch completes that TOP brass signature sound! I also don’t think that Chester was on the Hammond keys, is that correct? Thanks for replying the song really made my day.
On the other hand we got one of the last performance's ever with Mic Gillette r.i.p.) with the band
Timeless. TOP rules !!!
'bout time y'all got to diggin' on T.O.P.
Oh, that cool guitar that's difficult to explain -- that's just funk guitar. That's how it sounds... or should sound.
Back in the day (70s), the track that made wanted to learn the bass. I did! Paid my mortgage and put my daughter through school and college. Cheers Rocco (RIP)... Please check out their track Soul Vaccination. Cheers (from the UK) guys ❤️
Don't know where you guys are located, but if ToP ever passes thru your area you absolutely positively need check out there live shows. After 50+ years they still regularly blow the roofs off of nightclubs. ....
....
1973 that Rocks! The actual lineup.
Agree with everyone - you have to see it in '73 to realize just how bad-ass it was in its time. Also, the song doesn't exist without that bassline, but I've NEVER seen the bass player get any camera time. Criminal.
It's Not The Crime..
Loved it
😂Tower of Power Earth Wind and Fire The Crusaders Steely Dan The Dobbie Brothers Stevie Wonder etc.When all of these amazing musicians and vocalists sadly pass away what do we have left.The answer is nothing.I am 70 years old and have lived through 4 decades of truly outstanding music.
My favorite song don’t change horses in the middle of the stream . Making hits for 50 years
Rocco Prestia locking dat shiz down!! 🎸🔥🔥🔥
The Music speaks for itself.
The Eastbay Kings of fUnK & Soul it is.
the coolest thing about top is every one in the band could play rhythm or solo thier azz off.
Nice LIVE version
Y'all loved it but you watched the wrong vid. Go back to the original version. It will blow your mind. I'm glad you liked it. Don't miss the music. Keep searching. There's a lot more.
right around the corner from the land of james brown
Shot in the city plaza of Lugano, Italy
You rock
Look up "Squib Cakes" by TOP - you won't be disappointed.
They do the ride out Over Rice.
CLASSIC!!!
You guys should check out this song by tower of power it's called funk the dumb stuff so much funk in it to the wolf hunters
Only Blood Sweat and Tears had better or equivalent horns. RIP Lew Soloff.
Check out you're still a young man and another good one is so very hard to go these are my favorites
Time Will Tell and Don’t Change Horses In The Middle Of The Stream. 11:03 12/22
Look up the word 'tight' in any dictionary. It just says Tower Of Power!
Going strong since 1968. The Funky Doctor, Doc Kupka, is noticeably absent from this performance. That mad low "scoop" of his baritone sax is silent, though his hat is there. A TOP show is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. The only place I will be seen dancing in public.
He rarely takes a Leave of absence,Yvonne,the wife was not feeling too good.
singer left band hes on his own now was singing with temptations now other things larry braggs...
its james brown jam
CHICKEN PIC'N ON GUITAR
Lenny Williams = Tower of Power
Lenny was my favorite also. The only lead singers I never saw was Rick Stevens and Rufus Miller.
ITS A JAMES BROWN SONG
You young kids have no idea what you missed. Just ask Grandma and Granddad.
FUNKY DR IS MISSING PLAYS BIG HORN
GUY WITH 2HORNS PASS AWAY AND BASS PLAYER PASS THIS YEAR
Listen to BUMP CITY
Tower Of Power could never capture the crowd at live performances because they always played the song too fast, and they replaced the lead singer with somebody who wasn't that good. LISTEN TO THE STUDIO VERSION, THERE IS NOTHING BETTER.
soul vaccination bad song to
Prince Aretha Franklin,James,Brown,Whitney Houston etc all sadly gone.Wheres the new talent coming through.There isn't any.
You listening to the wrong one. Go back to the first tower power album with Lenny Williams. He will blow your head off. This guy I am not impressed with. By the way, I’m a musician.